Ash receiving and fire extinguishing receptacle



R. M. GENSHAW ETAL Filed Aug. 19, 1953 July 24 INVENTORS R oger N, Genshaw E Zmer Ka ai'ie Unite States Patent" ASH RECEIVING AND FIRE EXTINGUISHING RECEPTACLE Roger M. Genshaw, Mount Morris, and Elmer Kaake, Clio, Mich.

Application August 19, 1953, Serial No. 375,143

2 Claims. (Cl. 20637) The present invention relates to combined tobacco ash receiving and fire extinguishing receptacles, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally, there is provided a very simple and inexpensive telescopic receptacle which may be completely closed for carrying in a pocket or purse ormay be extended to a position whereby access can be gained to the interior thereof for the deposit of tobacco ashes or for the insertion of lighted ends of cigarettes, cigars, or matches to be smothered by the absence of sutficient oxygen in the receptacle to support combustion. The receptacle consists essentially of inner and outer tubular casings oblong in cross sections and each having one end closed and the other end open. The open end of the inner casing is slidably received in the open end of the outer casmg and there is an opening in one side wall of the inner casing that is exposed upon slidable extended positioning of said casings relative to one another through which ashes are deposited and lighted ends of objects are inserted into the receptacle.

lt is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved ash receiving and fire extinguishing receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a receptacle of the character set forth, novel arranged and proportioned casings that support a burning object in a position with a lighted end thereof inserted in an opening in one of the casings for eificiently extinguishing the fire on the burning object.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a receptacle of the character set forth, novel means for yieldably holding the pair of slidable casings in a closed position and for yieldably holding said casings against separation from one another when said casings are moved to an extended position.

It is also an object of the invention to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel and simple means of identifying the upper side and end of separation of the receptacle when said receptacle is in a closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of the character set forth which is simple and substantial in construction, efiicient in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter following and the drawings forming a part thereof, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the improved recep tacle in closed position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the device extended and in the act of extinguishing a lighted cigarette;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device extended with a portion broken away and shown in section;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 44 of Figure 3 showing a cigarette supported by the device;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the inner casing removed from the outer casing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate generally outer and inner casings, respectively, which are slidably arranged relative to one another and together provide the improved receptacle. The outer casing has a tubular metallic side wall 12 completely covered, as at 13, by a decorative material, such as leather or the like, and has a flat end wall 14 of greater thickness than the side wall that closes one end of said side wall and protrudes beyond the outer side surface thereof a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cover 13, so that the protruding edge of said end wall is flush with the outer surface of said covering. The tubular side wall 12 is oblong in cross section providing spaced parallel upper and lower flat portions 15 and 16, respectively, joined together by greater spaced semi-circular portions 17, as clearly shown in Figure 5.

, The inner casing 10 also consists of a tubular metallic side wall, which is designated by the numeral 18, and a flat end wall indicated by the numeral 19. The end wall 19 is the same size as the end wall 14 of the outer casing, but the tubular side wall 18, while being of the same general shape of the tubular side wall 12, is of less size and slightly tapered inwardly as it extends toward its open end for being slidably received in said outer tubular idewall. Like the outer casing, the inner casing in cross section has the tubular side wall i8 thereof provided with upper and lower spaced flat side portions 20 and 21, respectively, that are joined together by semicircular portions 22. The taper of the tubular side wall 18 is very slight and is provided merely for the purpose of overcoming surface frictional engagement of the outer and inner tubular cas ings with each other upon sliding said casings relative to one another.

In the upper fiat side portion 20 of the inner tubular wall 18 adjacent the end wall 19 and substantially midway between the semicircular portions 22, there is provided a circular opening 23, and the metal of the side portion 22 immediately surrounding said opening is annularly turned downwardly in a frustro-conical shape as indicated by the numeral 24. Also, centrally of the upper flat side portion 20 but at the open end of the inner tubular casing, an inverted V-shaped spring tongue 25 is struck from the metal forming said wall which is adapted to engage in a rectangular opening 26 and a slot 27 provided in the upper fiat side portion 15 of the outer tubular casing 10. The rectangular opening 26 is arranged adjacent the end wall 14 and receives the apex of the inverted V-shaped tongue 25 for yieldably holding the two casings 10 and 11 in closed position relative to one another, while the slot 27 which is in alignment with the opening 26 permits considerable but limited free sliding movement of the casings relative to one another. The end of the slot 27 furthest remote from the opening 26 determines the normal open position of the casings, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, but upon greater sliding pressure against tension of the spring tongue 25 as when locating the tongue out of the opening and into the slot, the two casings may be separated from one another for cleaning purposes.

On the outer face of the leather 13 covering the upper flat wall portion 15 of the outer casing, a metal plate 28 is secured in position by gluing, cementing, or any other method, and reinforces the wall weakened by providing the slot 27. This plate, which is clearly visible and is on the upper wall portion 15, identifies the top from the bottom of the receptacle, thus eliminating to a great extent the danger of opening the receptacle upside down and spilling therefrom refuse previously deposited therein. Also, a letter, as indicated at 29, representing an initial of the owner, an emblem, or monogram, is placed on the plate 28 to indicate by its position that it is the end wall 19 that must be slid away from the leather covering to open the receptacle.

In use, the receptacle when closed may be conveniently carried -in a pocket or purse with refuse therein without danger of leakage until thegparty carrying same isiatan appropriate place where the receptacle may be emptied. Should the userbe standing or walking while smoking, the receptacle .may be opened-and closed each .time it .is desired to deposit ashes therein. On .the other hand, should the user be seated in a private home orofiice, he may place-the receptacle on a convenient surface in open position and usethedevicethe sameashe would an ordinary ash tray. By constructing thereceptacle inthe manner set forth, .it-can be seen that the same will rest firm on a substantially flat surface and remain in proper position for use. The downturned flange 24 around the opening 23 'directsashes and =lighted ends of cigarettes and cigars into a relatively small opening, which is required for the purpose of smothering fire on lighted ends of objects insertedin and supported by .the opening. By referring to Figure 4, it can be seen-that the shape of the receptacle and the size and arrangement-of the opening combine to support a cigarette during the period oxygen in the receptacle is consumed to the extent that there is no longer sufiicient oxygen to support combustion, which by test is approximately 30 seconds.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction withtthe accompanying drawing, it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilledin this art. A moredetailed description is according'ly deemed unnecessary.

-It is-to be'understood, however, that even though there is herein' shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment of .the invention various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and full intendment of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. An ash receiving and fire extinguishing receptacle comprising :inner and outer telescoping tubular casings,

each -of said casings having one end thereof open and being: arranged with the open end of the inner casing slidable within the open end of the outer casing, a closure wall on'the outer end of each of said tubular casings, each of said tubular casings being oblong in cross section providing flat spaced wall portions joined together by greater spaced semicircular wall portions, one of said fiat wall portions of said inner tubular casing having a circular opening therein adjacent its end closure wall for the deposit of refuse into the receptacle, an inverted V- shaped tongue struek outwardlyifr om a flat wall portion of the inner casing at the open end thereof, said outer casinghaving a rectangular opening in afflat wallrpnrtion thereof adjacent its closed end wall into which said tongue is adaptedito betengageditor-l-yieldablyholding the casings in closed position, said fiat wall portion'havingthe rectangular opening :therein alsoibeing provided with an elongated slot slightly spaced from and in alignment with said rectangular opening and extending toward and short of the open end-of the casinginto which said tonguealso is adapted to engage for limited .free sliding movement of the casings relative to one another, and apiece of decorative material secured 'to the outer surface of the tubular ,portion of said outer casing and concealing said rectangular opening andsaid elongated slot by extending thereacross.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the piece of decorative material is .in .the form of a flexible covering that encloses the tubular portion of theoutericasing and Wherein anidehtificzition plate issecured on said covering and is positioned atalocation where it bridges said elongated slotand with said securementvto said cover at opposite sides of said slot.

References Citedin the file of this patent iUNIIED STATES PATENTS 375,621 Smith Jan. 19, 1897 "930,406 McDonald Aug. 10, 1909 1,293,062 'Erdey Feb."4, 1919 1,510,599 Martinez Oct. 7,1924 1,658,496 ".Qvarnstrom Feb. 7, 1928 2312, 370 Bowles Mar. 2, 1943 2,341,447 Klotz Feb. .8, "1944 

